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Last year a documentary exposing the epidemic of military rape of women and men shocked the conscience of many Americans. This week, the United States Senate took two bold steps to combat the Invisible War by passing the Shaheen and Boxer amendments. This progress proves that brave people speaking out can make change even in the most harrowing circumstances. But we must do more.

As I've written here before, a cultural breakthrough at the movies shatters the silence of military sexual trauma. I wrote on Veterans Day: "if you see one military movie, see The Invisible War - it has exposed the epidemic of military rape - an estimated 19,000 service members - and spurred calls to change the antiquated Pentagon rules that barred prosecution of offenders. More of this open discussion will reduce stigma and heal mental wounds of war. We must continue to eliminate combat stress stigma, and support better health care for female veterans including resources to those coping with PTSD and MST."

What the Senate did this week in passing the National Defense Authorization Act was to codify two policy recommendations: one, a permanent ban of waivers for sexual offenders, and two, coverage of abortions for women in the military in the case of rape or incest abortions for women in the military in the case of rape or incest. Taken together, they demonstrate that elections have consequences, and that activists can indeed turn horrific private pain into positive public policy.

There is much more work to do: as the Invisible War reveals, no military base - including the elite Marine Barracks - is immune from the scourge of military rape. The chilling thought of a rapist guarding President Obama, his wife and daughters should be enough to warrant a complete independent investigation.

Neither the First Family or any American family wants a rapist standing watch enabled with a gun, a badge, and a lax commanding officer. Taking prosecuting discretion away from commanders was an interim step ordered two days after Secretary Panetta saw the documentary. The new defense secretary and the new Congress must go even farther with a systematic approach that combats crime, prosecutes offenders, and protects the victims.

Just as the military desegregated its ranks to combat racial discrimination and repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell to combat antigay discrimination, it must truly demonstrate zero tolerance for military rape to combat violent sex crimes. As we learned in the Penn State scandal, there are too many Jerry Sanduskys in our midst and too many Joe Paternos enabling them. Be it Penn State or Citadel or the Catholic Church or the Boy Scouts or the elite presidential marine Barracks, no one is above the law and all should put protecting the innocent over coddling the guilty.

For the sake of its servicemen and women and for all the American people, the military must move on this rape epidemic with the same patriotic dedication to "duty, honor, country " that it has in keeping America safe and free.

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